RSS
ATOM
advertisement
World Cup 2010 Know Your Rivals Group A EXCLUSIVE: Former French Star Jean Pierre Papin - Group A Is A Trap
The former France international is wary about the rivals Les Bleus will meet in the group stage of the competition.
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
Feb 25, 2010 9:51:00 AM
Welcome to Goal.com - Know Your Rivals for the World Cup 2010!
In this special series we bring you the local knowledge of the world's leading football tournament. With our worldwide team of experts, each one based in the country in question - from Brazil to North Korea - you'll hear first-hand the latest team news, exclusive interviews, and fan opinions of your World Cup opponents.
Goal.com spoke to former France legend Jean Pierre Papin about the French national team and the upcoming World Cup in South Africa.
Goal.com: What do you think about France’s chances at the World Cup ?
Papin: They are the same as the other 31 teams. Now that France have qualified for the World Cup, it's fairly open, as it is for the other big teams. Everyone will be playing for the knockout stages.
Goal.com: Which rivals in Group A are the most difficult for France?
Papin: The four teams have qualified for the World Cup and deserve their place. France will play some teams that are unknown to them. South America, with Uruguay, will not be easy. The last match between the two was 0-0, in a World Cup too. It's been a long time since we last played against Mexico. This is a team which could be surprising. France must be careful with Mexico.
And the last match of the group is against South Africa. We hope we won't need to play for qualification against the hosts, because it would be difficult. It's a fairly open group, but if you look closer, it could be a trap.
Goal.com: Do you have a favourite for the World Cup?
Papin: Honestly, it is too complicated to choose a favourite.
Goal.com: You played under Fabio Capello’s guidance, but do you think he could help England to win the competition?
Papin: Capello is a maestro, someone who brings discipline and who is very demanding. If he happens to transpose these qualities to England, then they will be very dangerous competitors.
Goal.com: Do you like his methods?
Papin: Yes. To go forward, we need these kinds of methods.
In this special series we bring you the local knowledge of the world's leading football tournament. With our worldwide team of experts, each one based in the country in question - from Brazil to North Korea - you'll hear first-hand the latest team news, exclusive interviews, and fan opinions of your World Cup opponents.
Goal.com spoke to former France legend Jean Pierre Papin about the French national team and the upcoming World Cup in South Africa.
Goal.com: What do you think about France’s chances at the World Cup ?
Papin: They are the same as the other 31 teams. Now that France have qualified for the World Cup, it's fairly open, as it is for the other big teams. Everyone will be playing for the knockout stages.
Goal.com: Which rivals in Group A are the most difficult for France?
Papin: The four teams have qualified for the World Cup and deserve their place. France will play some teams that are unknown to them. South America, with Uruguay, will not be easy. The last match between the two was 0-0, in a World Cup too. It's been a long time since we last played against Mexico. This is a team which could be surprising. France must be careful with Mexico.
And the last match of the group is against South Africa. We hope we won't need to play for qualification against the hosts, because it would be difficult. It's a fairly open group, but if you look closer, it could be a trap.
Goal.com: Do you have a favourite for the World Cup?
Papin: Honestly, it is too complicated to choose a favourite.
Goal.com: You played under Fabio Capello’s guidance, but do you think he could help England to win the competition?
Papin: Capello is a maestro, someone who brings discipline and who is very demanding. If he happens to transpose these qualities to England, then they will be very dangerous competitors.
Goal.com: Do you like his methods?
Papin: Yes. To go forward, we need these kinds of methods.
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
|
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
1 Comments
Advertisement
Live!
Champions League LIVE!
Join Goal.com for all the Champions League action as we bring you the latest team news, press conferences and analysis. Contact us on Twitter @goal_intl with any questions...
Hosted by Stephen Crawford & Adam Scime
Hosted by Stephen Crawford & Adam Scime
2/15/12
And with that, we're going to call it a night, folks.
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
2/15/12
All this focus on the Arsenal and Milan game should not take away from another cracker earlier tonight between Zenit and Benfica. The Russians came from a goal down to lead 2-1 in the closing minutes before Oscar Cardozo levelled things for Benfica, but it wasn't over there as Roman Shirokov won the game for Zenit in the 88th minute.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
2/15/12
Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny bemoaned his side's luck tonight but refused to give up. Here's some of his quotes:
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
2/15/12
Another Milan player who was willing to share his thoughts after the match was Mark van Bommel, who has urged caution ahead of the second leg in London.
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
2/15/12
Next up is the Milan maestro Clarence Seedorf. He only managed 12 minutes on the pitch, but watching from the sidelines he was delighted at how his team mates had dominated the game.
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
Inside Goal.Com
-
Champions League Player Ratings: AC Milan 4-0 Arsenal
Goals from Kevin-Prince Boateng, Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic handed the Italian side a victory that all but seals their progression to the next round of the competition
-
Champions League Player Ratings: Zenit 3-2 Benfica
Goal.com casts a studious eye over the performers at the Petrovsky Stadium as a late goal settles a thriller in the Russian's favour and sets up enthralling second leg
-
Serie A Player Ratings: Parma 0-0 Juventus
The Bianconeri missed a great chance to go back to the top of Serie A, but they caused the home side plenty of problems thanks mainly to Andrea Pirlo
-
Messi breaks Champions League knockout record
The Argentine, still only 24, is level with current record holders Raul and Andriy Shevchenko, but can surpass the two European greats with a solitary strike at Leverkusen tonight
-
Should 'Vanishing Spray' be introduced globally?
The spray, which has been designed to stop defensive walls from encroaching closer than 10 yards to the ball at free-kicks, is set to be discussed at next month's IFAB meeting
Advertisement
Advertisement
